This is another reason why the Internet Archive is just incredible. The Great 78 Project is a collection of old recordings that pre-date LPs and it’s amazing:
The Great 78 Project is a community project for the preservation, research and discovery of 78rpm records. From about 1898 to the 1950s, an estimated 3 million sides (~3 minute recordings) have been made on 78rpm discs. While the commercially viable recordings will have been restored or remastered onto LP’s or CD, there is still research value in the artifacts and usage evidence in the often rare 78rpm discs and recordings. Already, over 20 collections have been selected by the Internet Archive for physical and digital preservation and access. Started by many volunteer collectors, these new collections have been selected, digitized and preserved by the Internet Archive, George Blood LP, and the Archive of Contemporary Music.
Here is one example that I noticed on the front page of the collection. It’s “La Vie En Rose” by Edith Piaf; Louiguy; Edith Piaf Chansons Parisiennes; Guy Luypaerts:
If you love old music then you will enjoy this collection. You can follow the project on Twitter if you are interested in new additions:
Source: 78rpm Records Digitized by George Blood, L.P. : Free Audio : Download & Streaming : Internet Archive
This is an awesome find!